| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monroe, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Mt. Monroe Loop |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 29, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Cog Railway Base Rd. was plowed, with sand/salt, though parts of it looked as if it had a thin layer of snow/ice - we drove on it slowly and it was OK. The WMNF Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead parking lot (on the right 1.1 mile after the 4-way intersection with Jefferson Notch/Mt. Clinton Rd.) was plowed but had a thin layer of snow. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Ice Axe |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Two in my party did posthole through to a stream, but if one is paying attention to foot placement or is using poles to test the solidity, the stream crossings are not difficult. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
More cairns on Mt. Monroe Loop would help to make the route clearer in poor conditions. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
None. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
I used snowshoes from start to finish on this out-and-back to Mt. Monroe and was happy with the choice, though I was unable to convince my fellow hikers to do the same. Although the bottom of Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail is somewhat packed, the snow soon becomes looser. Yes, it is _possible_ to hike it with microspikes, but the result of so many people doing so is that the trail is currently a mess of postholes and mashed potatoes. On the steep section of Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail above Gem Pool (3450 ft. elevation), snowshoes with televators were perfect. If not using snowshoes, then having crampons and/or an ice axe would help here since it is very steep. Going down this section was easiest using a butt-sled (with some way to brake oneself)! The upper part of Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, beyond the crossing of the main brook at the highest fall, was hard to follow - blowing snow took only minutes to hide the tracks made by others. Similarly the path from the Lakes of the Clouds Hut to the summit of Mt. Monroe was hard to follow in the blowing snow - a couple of cairns were helpful, but there were not enough of them to make the route clear - an ice axe was useful here too at one particular location, though maybe it was difficult because we were not quite on the trail.
|
|
 | Name: |
mathbp |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-01-29 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
|
